Linn-Benton Community College will cut 11 positions and review operational costs in response to a $3.5 million budget deficit, the school announced Monday.
The college plans to reduce staffing by eliminating five current positions and six vacant positions, a move that reportedly will cut $2.1 million from the budget, LBCC reported, adding that most staffing changes will be completed by June 30.
“These decisions were made after careful consideration of how to minimize direct impact on our students while addressing our financial responsibilities,” LBCC President Lisa Avery said through a press release. “While these reductions are challenging, we’ve approached them purposefully, ensuring that student support and educational quality remain our top priorities.”
Avery said she has been in contact with state legislators.
“We are hopeful that the state will approve adequate funding for community colleges in the next biennium and that the new federal administration will allocate funds to help Oregon students obtain the skills they need to become workforce-ready,” she said.
A College-Wide Budget Taskforce worked to identify areas where reductions would have the least effect on student success and retention, LBCC reported. Core instructional programs remain intact, though some support services will be restructured or reduced.
The remaining $1.4 million deficit will be addressed through operational efficiencies, prioritized spending on core instructional needs, and additional cost-saving measures that will be implemented throughout the coming year, the school said.
During its March meeting, the Linn-Benton Community College Board of Education also approved a 4% tuition increase for the 2025-26 academic year. The increase will raise in-state tuition by $5.76 per credit hour and fees by $3.49 per credit hour.
The new tuition rates will take effect for students registering for summer classes, which begin June 23. In-state tuition goes from $144.04 to $149.80 per credit hour. Out-of-state tuition rises from $334.80 to $348.19.